Galloway on Castro (Linda Blair Barf Alert!!!)

www.andrewsullivan.com ^ | February 17, 2004 | Andrew Sullivan

[Carthago delenda est]

I missed this interview with Saddam-supporter and anti-war campaigner George Galloway. But this exchange is priceless. Galloway is speaking first:

"I don't – and I don't think many readers of The Independent on Sunday – consider Castro or Guevara a rogue. These people are heroes."

But Castro is a dictator, and you just said. . .

"He’s a hero. Fidel Castro is a hero."

He's a dict. . .

"I don't believe that Fidel Castro is a dictator."

I honestly can't think of anything to say to this.

"Fidel Castro is a great revolutionary leader. But for 40 years or more of siege, undoubtedly Cuba would have developed, democratically speaking, differently. But when the enemy is at the gates, spending billions to destroy the revolution, you have to accept that there will be restrictions on political freedoms in a place like Cuba."

You've met El Presidente, I take it.

"Yes. Magnificent. He’s the most magnificent human being I’ve ever met."

Galloway is beyond parody.

[Carthago delenda est]

"Everybody knows...

That the world is full of

Stupid people."

-- The Refreshments

[RightWingAtheist]

He’s a hero. Fidel Castro is a hero."

[daviddennis]

He's probably right about the Independent's readers. This is the same paper that has a web package charging by the year for the articles of Robert Fisk. Alone. Without including the rest of the paper.

Fidel started as a hero; he was and is genuinely a true believer. Unfortunately, he was a true believer in something just plain wrong.

He could have stayed a hero if he'd realized around 1970 how badly the Communist experiment had let his people down, and traded it for something else. But he didn't, so now he's a goat. And a dictator.

D

[Carthago delenda est]

Fidel started as a hero; he was and is genuinely a true believer.

I might have to quibble with that. Two of Castro's relatives from a former marriage are currently United States congressmen and swear that he has never been serious about communism; he's just after power. And I don't think he's ever been a hero. Just a thug.

[billybudd]

A hero? More like a power-thirsty money-grubbing mobster. Just like every other dictator in every other 3rd world s*** hole.

[backhoe]

-The Fire Down South...( Latin America--)--

Castro, the Carribean, and Terrorism

-MP George Galloway- voice cries "peace," hand in Saddam's till...--